NRL Preview: Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels - Round 18

It may be too late to save the Knights’ season but Mitchell Pearce will be welcomed back with open arms tonight when the experienced playmaker makes his return from a torn pectoral muscle. Pearce hasn’t pulled on a Newcastle jersey since Round 8 when he suffered the injury against Wests Tigers at Tamworth’s Scully Park. The Knights were sitting in eighth place at the time after a satisfactory 4-3 start to their season but since Pearce’s injury they have won just two from nine and slipped to 12th on the ladder.

The pain at home

Nowhere has Pearce’s absence been more sorely felt than at the Knights’ home ground, McDonald Jones Stadium. Newcastle have lost all six games there in Pearce’s absence, after securing stirring victories against the Sea Eagles and Broncos earlier in the season. The losses have failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Knights’ supporters, however, who have continued to turn up in huge numbers. There were over 17,000 for the Round 16 clash with the Bulldogs and the average attendance this season has been 19,313 – and that is second only to the Broncos.

(AAP)The Knights will welcome back Mitchell Pearce after a long injury layoff (AAP)

The wood on the Eels

The most famous match-up of these blue-collar clubs took place in 2001 when the Knights and the Eels met in the NRL grand final. Andrew Johns was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for steering the Knights to a 30-24 victory after they led 24-0 at halftime. The Knights were dominant that day and they have continued to dominate the Eels over recent seasons. Apart from narrow losses at home in 2015 and 2016, the Knights have managed nine wins from their past 11 games against Parramatta

Parramatta centre Michael Jennings is one of only two Eels players who have appeared in all 16 games this season (prop Daniel Alvaro is the other) but Jennings worked overtime last weekend while his team-mates enjoyed the bye when coach Brad Arthur directed him to play with feeder club Wentworthville in the ISP competition. Jennings acknowledged that his form had been lagging and accepted the demotion, travelling to Auckland and scoring a try in the Magpies’ 30-22 defeat of the Warriors.

(AAP)Robert Jennings has been a mainstay in the Eels lineup this season (AAP)

Norman’s milestone

Five-eighth Corey Norman has had little to celebrate this season but he will at least be recognised by the Eels tonight for reaching 100 games for the club. Norman debuted at Parramatta in 2014 after playing 62 games for the Broncos. His biggest strength on the field this season has been his ability to force repeat sets of possession. He leads the NRL for forcing goal-line drop-outs with 20 for the season.

Many negatives for the visitors

Along with fellow stragglers, the North Queensland Cowboys, Parramatta rate as one of the major under-achievers of the 2018 season. Many were predicting a top four finish for the Eels after their efforts in 2017 but their campaign has run icy cold. The Eels have failed to win a single away game – their only win away from ANZ Stadium was their clash with the Cowboys in Darwin – officially a home game for Parramatta. The Eels are ranked 16th in attack and 16th for goal kicking.

(AAP)The Eels have been one of the league's major under-achievers of the 2018 NRL season (AAP)

Chance to climb

The six-point gap between eighth and ninth will make it exceedingly difficult for any of the bottom teams to climb into the top eight this season but the Knights may be able to make a surge over the next month. If Pearce can successfully organise his troops, Newcastle have an opportunity to make a run with four consecutive games against teams outside the eight (Eels, Titans, Cowboys and Tigers). Their draw becomes infinitely more difficult over the final month with games against the Warriors, Panthers, Sharks and Dragons.

The verdict

Interest in Mitchell Pearce’s return could make all the difference in this contest. What shaped as a lowly affair between two struggling outfits suddenly has plenty of appeal and Pearce will be determined to hit the ground running after three months on the sidelines. Pearce will be reunited with former Roosters Connor Watson, Aiden Guerra and Shaun Kenny-Dowall and a victory could send one of the NRL’s best-supported clubs on a late-season charge. Knights by 10.